Even though the federal government has recalled many toys and children's objects this year, 2008 in no way compares to last year when millions of children's items were pulled from store shelves.

Still, consumer and public interest groups are warning shoppers not to let their guards down this shopping season. And, they point out, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which President George W. Bush signed into law earlier this year to combat the 2007 problems, doesn't take effect until February.

"We wanted to make sure consumers knew that it was 'buyers beware' this holiday season," said Liz Hitchcock, public health advocate for U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The group's 23rd annual "Trouble in Toyland" report says parents shopping for holiday goodies should look out for hazards, such as small parts, soft plastics and lead contamination.

Extensive testing

The act requires toys and infant products undergo extensive testing before they are sold. It also bans lead and other harmful chemicals in toys.

A CPSC spokesman didn't return phone calls for comment. But it, too, got into the warning business last month when it announced the top five toy hazards: scooters and other riding toys, small balls and other toys with small parts, balloons, magnets and chargers and adapters.

Rachel Weintraub, the Consumer Federation of America's director of product safety and senior counsel, said some retailers are requiring vendors to comply with the new law before it goes into effect. However, she said, shoppers should be careful and research the products they purchase.

"So, we can't say, by any means, that there's no reason to worry," Weintraub said. "That parents no longer need to remain vigilant, that's not accurate at all."

She suggests that consumers look at the CPSC's recall list, but still consider other resources to make a determination on what items are safe. She also warned parents to avoid buying toys with smaller parts for younger children and not to purchase jewelry with inexpensive metals that can be toxic.

To protect consumers from toys made with hazardous materials, the Center for Environmental Health, the Michigan-based nonprofit Ecology Center and other groups released test results of 1,500 toys and children's products made with hazardous materials. The results, which can be found on healthytoys.org, show that about 30 percent of the items still had lead or other chemical hazards, said Charles Margulis, the center's spokesman.

"The health concern in toys are the same," Margulis said. "But we do think there has been some progress since last year. Clearly, it's not enough."

He said the groups tested for toxins in things such as jewelry with cheap metal, vinyl and soft plastics, and paint on toys and other objects.

Last month, the World Against Toys Causing Harm released its annual "Ten Worst Toys" list with items ranging from $3 to $49.99.

Meanwhile, the Toy Industry Association takes issue with the unsafe toy lists, saying the groups' "testing method" is only good for screening purposes.

"Thus, it is not an accurate measurement of the amount of any substance, nor is it a method consistent with U.S. safety standards for toys," Adrienne Citrin, an association spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.

Citrin attributed the decline in toy recalls to the increased testing and the hard work of the industry to make sure that the toys on shelves are safe.